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Lotus leaf

Burdock
flower

Bird

Dolphin

UNIT 5: INVENTIONS
LESSON 3: READING

Wonderful nature

Task 2. What is the most suitable title of the text?

a. Mother Nature
b. Imitating Nature
c. Greatest Inventions

People often use the natural world as inspiration
for their inventions. By observing animals and
plants, they design new products to serve
humans. Here are some examples.
Animals can do many things humans cannot, like
flying or staying underwater for a long time. The
aeroplane, with its wings and shape imitating
those of a bird, is one of the greatest inventions in
our history. Thanks to it, people can travel long
distances in the air. This has helped to develop
trade and tourism. The submarine, which can
travel underwater, imitates a dolphin's shape.
Submarines are very useful for scientists to learn
about the undersea world.
Plants around us are also great sources of ideas
for other wonderful inventions. The self-cleaning
glass window and the fabric used to make
umbrellas are both inspired by the smooth
leaves of a lotus plant, with their ability to wash
away dirt in the rain. Another product is Velcro.
This hook-and-loop fastener was invented after
a Swiss engineer observed how the seeds of a
plant clung to his clothing. He then made two
fabrics stick together thanks to the hooks on

one surface and the loops on the other. Since then,
Velcro has gradually become a familiar fastener
for shoes, jackets, and even spacesuits.
It is definitely true that nature has inspired
numerous inventions and technologies. Scientists
and inventors have tried to imitate something in
nature in an effort to create better, stronger, safer
tools and devices for our everyday life.

Task 2. What is the most
suitable title of the text.
a. Mother Nature
b. Imitating Nature
b
c. Greatest Inventions

Task 3. Match the words with their meanings
Line

Words
1. inspire

Meanings
a. cloth or material for making
clothing, curtains, etc.

2. fastener

b. give someone a desire to do
something well

3. fabric

c. thread or fibre with a curved end

4. hook

d. special clothing for an astronaut

5. loop

e. device used to close a piece of
clothing

6. spacesuit

f. thin thread or fibre in the shape
of a circle

Task 3. Match the words with their meanings.
Line
18, 28

1. inspire

a. cloth or material for making
clothing, curtains, etc.

Line 21 2. fastener

b. give someone a desire to do
something well

Line 17 3. fabric

c. thread or fibre with a curved end

Line 21 4. hook

d. special clothing for an astronaut

Line 21 5. loop

e. device used to close a piece of
clothing

Line 27 6. spacesuit

f. thin thread or fibre in the shape
of a circle

People often use the natural world as inspiration
for their inventions. By observing animals and
plants, they design new products to serve
humans. Here are some examples.
Animals can do many things humans cannot, like
flying or staying underwater for a long time. The
aeroplane, with its wings and shape imitating
those of a bird, is one of the greatest inventions in
our history. Thanks to it, people can travel long
distances in the air. This has helped to develop
trade and tourism. The submarine, which can
travel underwater, imitates a dolphin's shape.
Submarines are very useful for scientists to learn
about the undersea world.
Plants around us are also great sources of ideas
for other wonderful inventions. The self-cleaning
glass window and the fabric used to make
umbrellas are both inspired by the smooth
leaves of a lotus plant, with their ability to wash
away dirt in the rain. Another product is Velcro.
This hook-and-loop fastener was invented after
a Swiss engineer observed how the seeds of a
plant clung to his clothing. He then made two
fabrics stick together thanks to the hooks on

one surface and the loops on the other. Since then,
Velcro has gradually become a familiar fastener
for shoes, jackets, and even spacesuits.
It is definitely true that nature has inspired
numerous inventions and technologies. Scientists
and inventors have tried to imitate something in
nature in an effort to create better, stronger, safer
tools and devices for our everyday life.

Vocabulary
1.Fastener
Hook (n) - /huk/
2. Loop (n) - /lu:p/
3. Fastener (n) - /´fa:snə/
 Hook-and-loop fastener Velcro
4. Fabric (n) - /´fæbrik/
5. Spacesuit (n) - /'speis'sju:t/

Hook

6. Inspire (v) - /in'spaiə/

Loop

Task 4. Give short answers to the following questions.
1. What are the inventions that imitate animals?
2. What are the inventions that imitate plants?
3. Why is the aeroplane considered one of the greatest
inventions in our history?
4. What can help scientists to learn about life under
the sea?
5. How can a glass window clean itself?
6. Find the words or phrases in the text that can
describe an aeroplane, a submarine, and Velcro.

Team One
Team Two

Spin Wheel
Points

1

2

3

4

5

6

1. What are the inventions that imitate
animals?
 The aeroplane and the submarine

2. What are the inventions that imitate
plants?
 Velcro, the self-cleaning glass window
and umbrella fabric

3. Why is the aeroplane considered one
of the greatest inventions in our
history?
 Because it helps us travel long
distances in the air and encourages the
development of tourism and trading.

4. What can help scientists to learn
about life under the sea?
 Submarines

5. How can a glass window clean itself?
 The material that makes up the glass
window has the ability to wash away dirt
in the rain.

6. Find the words or phrases in the text that can
describe an aeroplane, a submarine, and Velcro.

Inventions
An aeroplane
A submarine
Velcro

Descriptions
“its wings and shape imitating
those of a bird”
“imitates a dolphin's shape”

“two fabrics sticking together
thanks to the hooks on one surface
and the loops on the other”

People often use the natural world as inspiration
for their inventions. By observing animals and
plants, they design new products to serve
humans. Here are some examples.
Animals can do many things humans cannot, like
flying or staying underwater for a long time. The
aeroplane, with its wings and shape imitating
those of a bird, is one of the greatest inventions in
our history. Thanks to it, people can travel long
distances in the air. This has helped to develop
trade and tourism. The submarine, which can
travel underwater, imitates a dolphin's shape.
Submarines are very useful for scientists to learn
about the undersea world.
Plants around us are also great sources of ideas
for other wonderful inventions. The self-cleaning
glass window and the fabric used to make
umbrellas are both inspired by the smooth
leaves of a lotus plant, with their ability to wash
away dirt in the rain. Another product is Velcro.
This hook-and-loop fastener was invented after
a Swiss engineer observed how the seeds of a
plant clung to his clothing. He then made two
fabrics stick together thanks to the hooks on

one surface and the loops on the other. Since then,
Velcro has gradually become a familiar fastener
for shoes, jackets, and even spacesuits.
It is definitely true that nature has inspired
numerous inventions and technologies. Scientists
and inventors have tried to imitate something in
nature in an effort to create better, stronger, safer
tools and devices for our everyday life.

Task 5. Which of the four inventions mentioned in the text is the
best imitation of nature? State your reasons. Work in groups.

the aeroplane
the submarine
INVENTIONS

the self-cleaning
glass window and
umbrella fabric
Velcro

Wonderful
nature

Inventions
inspired by
nature
Words about
inventions and
nature

WONDERFUL
NATURE

 Review the contents that have been covered in the
lesson.
 Find some more inventions inspired by nature.
 Prepare for “Unit 5: Speaking”

Task 5. Which of the four inventions mentioned in the text is the
best imitation of nature. State your reasons. Work in pairs.
My opinion
Write the invention that you agree with the most.
………………………………………………………………………...
..
My reasons
Think of 3 reasons you choose this invention and write them below.
1.
…………………………………………………………………
…………….…………………………………………………...
2.
…………………………………………………………………
…………….…………………………………………………...
3.
…………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………

Task 5. Which of the four inventions mentioned in the text is the
best imitation of nature. State your reasons. Work in pairs.
My opinion
Write the invention that you agree with the most.
………………………………………………………………………...
..
My reasons
Think of 2 reasons you choose this invention and write them below.
1.
…………………………………………………………………
…………….…………………………………………………...
2.
…………………………………………………………………
…………….…………………………………………………...
3.
…………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………

Task 5. Which of the four inventions mentioned in the text is the
best imitation of nature. State your reasons. Work in pairs.
My opinion
Write the invention that you agree with the most.
………………………………………………………………………...
..
My reasons
Think of 2 reasons you choose this invention and write them below.
1.
…………………………………………………………………
…………….…………………………………………………...
2.
…………………………………………………………………
…………….…………………………………………………...
3.
…………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………

Task 5. Which of the four inventions mentioned in the text is the
best imitation of nature. State your reasons. Work in pairs.
My opinion
Write the invention that you agree with the most.
………………………………………………………………………...
..
My reasons
Think of 2 reasons you choose this invention and write them below.
1.
…………………………………………………………………
…………….…………………………………………………...
2.
…………………………………………………………………
…………….…………………………………………………...
3.
…………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………